Neuroptcrons family NonopUridce. 379 



therein, viz. :— iV. alha, Oliv., N. aristata, Klug, N. 

 capUlaris, Klug, N. setacea, Klug, and N. pusilla, 

 Taschenberp;.* 



This group of excessively delicate species appears to 

 be especially partial to the desert regions of Africa and 

 Asia. 



Of Ncmoptera as restricted to the four characteristic 

 species that find a place in the "European Fauna," 

 viz., N. Coa, L., N. lusitamca, Leach, N. (egyptiaca,f 

 Eambur {hehraica, Westwood), and N. siniiata, Oliv., 

 nothing further need be said. 



But there remain many species which for the present 

 may find a place in Halter, Eambur, species with trans- 

 parent wings, and the front prolonged into a beak. 

 Halter, as defined by Eambur, should have the posterior 

 wings " plus ou moins dilatees " before the apex. If 

 taken literally, several of these remaining species could 

 not in this case rest in this genus. But the form and 

 amount of dilatation varies greatly in difierent species 

 (and also slightly according to sex). I think it will be 

 found that tarsal characters of some importance exist m 

 several of these species, but my materials are too few. I 



These insects (excepting the well-known European 

 forms) are very difficult to obtain, and I only possess 

 about sixteen species of the family as a whole, which, 

 however, contrasts favourably with other collections I 

 have seen. Less than thirty species are known, and it 

 is very probable that the names by which some of these 

 are represented are really only synonyms. 



* According to this association of species, Crocc is practically 

 identical with Westwood's group (Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 1S41, p. 13), 

 characterised Ly the words "alee posticae setacea;, hand fasciatae." 



f Eambur's agyx>tiaca was characterised from Savigny's excel- 

 lent figure. Hagen (Stett. ent. Zeit., 1806, p. 451) identifies it with 

 sinuata, Oliv., but erroneously. It is more allied to lusitamca, 

 Westwood's hebraica (Thes. Ent. Oxon.) was from Syria, whence 

 I also possess the insect, which is undoubtedly that figured by 

 Savigny. 



I Westwood, in 1841, separated these species mto two groups, 

 according to the dilatation, or otherwise, of the posterior wmgs; 

 but a more radical subdivision, based upon other characters, may 

 become necessary. 



